Carpet sweeper



P. J. DANIELs 2,380,634

CARPET swEEPER Filed'July 28, 1943 s sheets-sheet 1 E Br July 31, 1945.

1 L25 n M@ July 341, 1945.

P. J. DANIELS CARPET swEEPER Filed July 28, 1945 -3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented July 3 1, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CARPET SWEEPER Paul J. Daniels, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application July 28, 1943, Serial No. 496,453

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in carpet sweepers.

Heretofore carpet sweepers have been constructed with bottom dust-collecting pans which are movable to an open position when it is desired to empty the sweeper. Due to this arrangement there is necessarily an imperfect seal around the edges of the bottom pans which results in a leakage of dust while cleaning or while moving the carpet sweeper from one room to another. In addition th'ese sweepers are usually provided with emptying mechanism including pan axles, springs and levers. This mechanism is necessarily subject to wear, as a result of continuous use, usually necessitating repair from time to time. Furthermore, the pivoted pansv and connected mechanism become loose in time and cause a rattling or similar noise when the sweeper is being used.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved carpet sweeper, in which the case may be formed either of wood or metal, embodying a fixed, solid pan construction together with novel means, independent of the pans, for discharging the dirt when it is desired to clean the sweeper. In the improved construction the edges of the pans are sealed in such a manner as to positively prevent the escape of dust from the bottom of the sweeper. In addition, the cover of the sweeper is formed with one or more doors through which dust may be discharged when th'e sweeper is inverted, and when the bail is parallel to the ,sweeper bottom.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved carpet sweeper having a case construction which renders the manufacture of the sweeper relatively inexpensive and which greatly simpliiies the assembly operations, the number of parts being substantially reduced over sweepers now on the market.

While the present invention is applicable to sweepers in which the case is formed of either wood or metal, the construction, nevertheless, lends itself particularly well to the-formation of a metal case formed principally of two blanks. One of these blanks includes the top of the case and the end bells, and the other blank forms `the tw.o pans together with the end bulkheads. In this construction all necessary holes, bulbs, drawings, upsets, and other shapes may be formed in the blanking operation, so that the attachment of the wheel, bail and brush assemblies is rendered very simple.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a carpet sweeper, as albove described, wh'erein the top of the case is formed with one or more doors. These doors are positioned above the pans and are preferably, but not necessarily, hinged.

When the sweeper is in a normal position of use these doors blend into the lines of the top of the sweeper to provide a neat and attractive appearance. On the other hand when the doors are open, and when the sweeper is inverted, the doors permit a discharge of dirt from the sweeper pans.

A further, more specific object of the invention is to provide a construction as above described wherein the hinged doors may be equipped with naps which project inwardly beyond the hinges. These flaps are so arranged that when the doors are opened, the movable edges 0f th'e flaps engage the upper edges of the pan lips to serve as gates between the brush and back ofthe pan. Thus, dirt or sweepings cannot fall onto the brush during the emptying operation. A still further object of the invention is to provide a construction, as above described, wherein the gate forming flaps of the doors may have their free edges'in the form of combs. These combs may, be positioned to engage the fbrush when the doors are closed and when the sweeper is in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in the metal carpet sweeper, means on the outer shell adapted to receive the upper edges of the bulkheads to insure proper location of the pans and under structure in assembly. This feature also facilitates the attachment of the bulkheads to the upper shell. y

A further object of the invention isl to provide a carpet sweeper wherein the major portion of the case may be formed of metal but wherein the side rails are preferably formed of wood or similar shock resisting material, the said side rails being designed to cooperate in assembly with'. both the pan' and cover portions andV to extend past the bulkheads to support the end bells of the cover shell.

A further object of the invention is to provide a metal case construction wherein the maior portion oi' the case is formed from two cooperating blanks, which construction may be used either with 'the improved upper door feature or in constructions wherein the top of th'e shell is solid.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of the improved carpet sweeper, and all its parts and combinations, as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

'I'he accompanying drawings illustrate a number of the preferred embodiments of the lnvention in which the case is shown as formed principally of wood or of metal, it being understood that, as to many of the features of the invention, other materials may be utilized. In these drawings, in which the same reference numerals designate the same or similar parts in all of the views:

Fig. 1 is a bottom view of that form of the invention utilizing wood for the case construction;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken approximately on the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through the sweeper` of Fig. 1 showing the sweeper inverted and in dumping position. The doors are indicated by full lines in the open position and by dot-and-dash in the closed position;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the form of Fig. 1 in a position of use;

Fig. 5 is a plan view ofthe blank for forming the pans and end bulkheads in the metal model;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the blank for forming the top shell and end bells;

Fig. 7 is a top view of the metal carpet sweeper;

Fig. 8 is a front elevational view of the metal sweeper showing part in longitudinal vertical section;

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view of the metal sweeper; and

Fig. 10 is a View similar to Fig. 9 illustrating a modified arrangement for the emptying doors.

Referring rst to the form of sweeperillustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, this sweeper may be constructed principally of wood and utilizes a minimum of metal parts. This wood may be either solid or plywood. Alternatively. the parts may be formed of molded pulp, composition board, or plastic.

The end bells I5 and I6 are connected in spaced position by a top platform member I1. The assembly may be accomplished by the use of dowels I8 as shown in Fig. 2. Connected by means of dowels I9 to the lower surface of the platform member I1. are end bulkheads 2U. These bulkheads are spaced inwardly from the end bells I5 and I6 to provide wheel compartments 2|. The surfaces of the bulkheads which face inwardly, are grooved as at 22 to receive the end edges of the pans 23 and to receive the end edges of the pan lips 24. Thus. the pans are maintained in assembled position in a very simple manner and in a manner which positively precludes the escape of dust from the end edges of the pans.

The outer longitudinal edges of the pans are received in notches 25 of the side rails 26. Nails or other fastening means 21 may secure thc-se longitudinal edges in a dust-sealing position.

As shown in Fig. 3, the upper edges of the side rails 26 (lower edges in the position of Fig. 3) are angled as at 28 and notched as at 29. Doors 30, which are hingedly connected to the end bells I5 and I6 by means of dowels 3|, are movable from the dot-and-dash line position of Fig. 3 to the full line position therein. These doors, when in closed position, rest on the upper edges of the end bulkheads 20, and the free edges of the doors engage the angled edges 2B of the side rails. The opposite edges of the doors are provided with dust-sealing tongues 32 which engage shoulders 33 on the side edges of the top platform member I1 when the doors are closed.

The shaft 34 for the brush 35 has its ends extending through cut-outs 36 in the end bulkheads. This brush shaft may be removably held in position by the inwardly extending ends 31 of a bail 3l. These bail ends extend through holes in the end bells and the bail may be yieldingly spread to release the brush if desired.

The ends of the brush shaft are equipped with rollers 39 which are frictionally engaged by the wheels 40 to provide a friction drive for the brush in the usual manner. The wheels may be yieldingly mounted in any well-known manner on spring assemblies 4| which are supported on the end bulkheads as shown in Fig. 1. These spring mountings permit the wheels to yield vertically when pressure is exerted on the sweeper during use. The wheel axles may be extended into recesses 4I', the edges of which limit the yielding movement of the wheels.

The ends of the side rails 26 are suitably interlocked with the end bells as at 42 in Fig. 1. In addition the end bells are formed with outwardly projecting lower edge anges 43 which support a. surrounding bumper 44 of rubber or other similar material. The arms of the bail 38 are pivoted for movement on the outside of the end bells so that the bail may be swung into engagement with the bumper 44 and parallel to the bottom of the sweeper to support the sweeper against rotation in inverted position as in Fig. 3. When in this position, the bail is clear of the doors 3B so that the latter may be opened. Also, when the bail is parallel to the bottom of the sweeper the entire sweeper may be hung up in a closet parallel to a wall to conserve room.

Suitable means may be employed to maintain the doors 30 in closed position during normal use of the sweeper. As illustrated in Fig. 3, it is preferred to utilize a band spring 45 which is connected by screws or the like 46 to'the center platform member l1. The spring is maintained in the slightly curved position of Fig. 3 by the curvature of the lower surface of the platform I1. The spring, however, tends to return to a straight line position and. therefore, when the doors 30 are closed. the ends of the spring 45 bear against the lower surfaces of the doors so that there is yielding resistance to open movement. When the doors are in the open position of Fig. 3 the spring co-acts with the tongues 32 to yieldingly retain the doors in open position.

Referring now particularly to the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5 to 9 inclusive, the case of the invention is formed principally from the two blanks illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. These blanks may be conveniently stamped out of sheet metal, but other suitable materials may, of course, be employed. The blank of Fig. 5 is adapted to produce the pan and bulkhead assembly. The end bulkheads 41 are integral with the end edges of the pan portions 48 and are bendable upwardly in assembly on the lines 49. The blank is cut out, as at 50, at each end to provide openings for the brush shaft and the blank interior is also cut along a longitudinal line 5I. The material on each side of the cut is bent upwardly on the lines 52 to provide pan lip portions 53. In addition, the outer longitudinal edges of the pan portions 48 have flanges 54 and the curved edges of the bulkheads have flanges 55. The anges 54 are foldable on the lines 56 and the flanges 55 are foldable on -the lines 51. Tongues 58 may also bemut in the blank and these tongues may be bent outwardly during assembly and secured to the pan lip portions 53 to hold the latter in assembled position, as in Fig. 9. In addition the bulkhead portions 41,*may be formed with offset circular areas Il which provide recesses on the opposite side of the blank and which perform the function of the recesses 4|' of theform of theinvention' shown in Fig. 2. v-

The other blank (see Fig. 6) yincludes a top portion 59 formed with a longitudinal center rubber bumper 69 as shown in Fig. 8. v Also, the l outer longitudinal edges of the top member 59 may be formed with lines 61. l

In assembling the sweeper thus formed, it is desirable to utilize wooden side rails 68, as shown in Fig. 9. The outer anges54 of `the'pans 48 are bent to extend into grooves 54', as shown in flanges B6 foldable on the.

Fig. 9. Thus the outer longitudinal edges of the" pans are sealed against the escape of dust. The

upwardly bent bulkhead portions 41. have their upper edge flanges 55 seated against shoulders 1i) formed in the blank portion 59.l Thus the bulkheads are retained in upright position and automatically spaced from the end bells. The flanges 55 may be secured by any desired fastening means or by welding to the underside of the top of the case.

the tongues 58 and the end edges of said lips may be sealed to the bulkhead portions. As shown in Fig. 8, the wheel compartments 1| are formed between the end bell portions62A whichare integral with the top of the case and between the bulkhead portions 41 whichy are integral with the pan assembly. The brush member .12 is held in position by the ends of the bail 13'in the samer manner as heretofore described inl'` connection with the form of the invention of Figs. land 2.r The Wheels 14 are also mounted in the same manner as shown and described in connection with Figs. l and 2 and are capable of yielding upwardly under pressure. The wheel axles may be made to extend into the recesses formed at 58 (Fig. 5) to limit the yielding movement ofthe wheels. This feature is also the same as heretofore described in connection with the recesses 4 l of Fig. 2.

Doors 15 (see Fig. 9) are hingedly connected, as at 16, to the longitudinal edges of the center platform portion 60. These doors have flaps 11 which project into the case at an angle beyond the hinges. When the doors are in the open position, indicated by dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 9, the flaps engage the upper edges of the pan lips 53 to form a gate. Thus, When the doors are opened and when the sweeper is inverted for dumping, dirt cannot fall over the upper edges of the pan lips and onto the brush. In addition the free edges of the flaps 11 may be serrated, as at 18, or provided with comb teeth. Thus when the doors are in the closed position of Fig. 9, the comb portions engage the periphery of the bristles of the brush 12 to serve as brush combs. Any suitable means may be employed for locking the doors in closed position and, if desired, means may also be utilized for maintaining the doors in the open position during dumping.

While hinged kdoors are the most convenient and are, therefore, preferable, other types of movable doors may be employed. Referring to Fig. 10 the doors 15' are mounted on the outer ends of swinging arms 1.9. These arms swing on pivot As beforementioned, the pan lip portionsI 53 are retained in proper assembled position by points to permitthe inner edges of the doors to swing withinthecase as indicated bythe dotand-dash lines in-Figsl.

It is apparentfom the above that in bothv forms ofthe invention the pan assemblies are iixed and permanently sealed against the downwardly escape'of dust. It is also apparent that dumping ofthe sweeper canv be readily accomplished' by opening the doorsl and by inverting the sweeper.l pan `axles,'springs'and levers usually'employed in connection with. bottom dump constructions are eliminated." This also renders the mechanism more simple to manufacturek and assemble and minimizes thenecessity for repairs. In addition, by eliminating the bottom door operating mechanism, they over-all height of the case is con-V siderably lowered.` Thus the sweeper may be pushed under certain types of furniture more readily. 'While the novel case construction has particular utility in connection with a sweeper having top discharge doors, nevertheless the `ar-I rangement issuitable for 'use ony conventional types of sweepers. This 'is particularly true kof -f the form of theinvention ldisclosed in Figs. 5 and 6 wherein themain portions of the'case including the pans, bulkheads and end bells, areformed from two il'at blanks. i

Various changes and modications kmay be1 made without departing from the spirit of the invention and all of such changes are contemplated` as may come within' the scope of the claims.

vWhat'I claim isz- 1 1. In a carpet sweeper'case construction, alongitudinally extending'ftop member having end bells integral therewith` and projecting downwardly therefrom, there being. shoulders extending transversely on the inner side: of the'r top member near each end and spaced inwardly therefrom a one-piece pan and bulkheadassembly including transversely spaced pan portions havingV integral 'upwardly bent lips at' the inner.

longitudinal edges of said pan portions and including bulkhead portions bent upwardly from the end edges of the pan portions, side rails connecting the end edges of the bulkheads to hold the latter in spaced position within the end bells, and means for connecting upper edge portionsof the bulkheads against the transverse shoulders of the top member.

2. In a carpet sweeper case construction, a longitudinally extending top member having a longitudinal dust discharge opening on each side, said top member also having end bells integral therewith and projecting downwardly therefrom, a one-piece pan and bulkhead assembly including transversely spaced pan portions having integral upwardly bent lips at the inner longitudinal edges of said pan portions and including bulkhead portions bent upwardly from the end edges of the pan portions, side railsl connecting the end edges of the bulkheads to hold the latter in spaced position within the end bells, means for eiecting a dustproof connection between upper edge p0rtions 0f the bulkheads and the top member, said dust discharge openings of the top member terminating at said last mentioned means, and movable doors normally closing the openings in the top member.

3. In a carpet sweeper having a case portion provided with a top dust discharge opening and having a brush, a bottom dustpan below said opening having an upturned lip extending parallel to said brush, and a hinged door normally closing said opening, said door having a flap at its The construction is such that vallA hinged edge pljECting Within the lCali@ and eX- tending parallel to the pan lip, 'said flap being of such length as to engage said lip when the door is open to prevent dirt from falling on the brush when said dirt is being emptied'from the top opening while the sweeper is inverted.

4. In a carpet sweeper having acase portion provided with a top dust discharge -opening and having a brush, a. bottom dustpan below said opening having an upturned lip extending parallel to said brush, and a hinged door normally closing said opening, said door having a flap atv its hinged edge projecting within the' case and extending parallel t the pan lip, said flap being of such length as to engage said liplwhen the door is open to prevent dirt from falling on the brush when said dirt is being emptied from the top opening while the sweeper is inverted and said flap having its free edge in the formof a comb which engages the brush when the door is closed.

5. In a carpet sweeper case construction, a longitudinally extending top member having a longitudinal dust discharge opening on each sidef said top member also having end bellsA integral there with and projecting downwardly therefrom, a one-piece pan and 4bulkhead assembly including transversely spaced pan portions and including bulkhead portions bent upwardly from the end edges of the pan portions,A said bulkhead portions being spaced from the end bells to provide wheel compartments therebetween,4 side rails connecting the end edges ofthe bulkheads, meansfor connecting the pan and bulkhead assembly to the top member, and movable doors normally closing the openings in the top member, the ends of said doors and openings terminating adjacent the lipper edges of the bulkheads so that the tops of theV tegal end bells projecting downwardly there from, said top member being formed with transversely extending offsets near each end and spaced means'for connecting the pan and bulkhead assembly to the top member, upper edge portions of the bulkheads engaging the transverseshoulders of the top member.

7. In a carpet sweeper having a case portion provided with a top dust discharge opening and having a brush, a bottom dustpan below said opening having an upturned lip extending par'- allel to said brush, and a hinged door' normally closing said opening, said door having a flap at its hinged edge projecting within the case and ex-l tending parallel to the pan lip, said flap being of such length as' to' cooperate with said lip when the door is open to direct dirt away from the brushv when said dirt is being emptied from the top opening while 'the sweeper is inverted.A

8. In a carpet sweeper having a case portion provided with a top dust discharge opening and having a brush, a bottom dustpan below said opening having an uptiirned lip extending perf allel to said brush, and a hinged door normally closing said opening,`said door having a flap at its hinged edge projecting within the case and extending parallel to the pan lip, said nap being of such length as to cooperate with said lip when the door is open to direct dirt away from the brush when. Said dirt is being emptied from the top opening while the sweeper is inverted and said flap having its free edge in the form of a comb which engages the brush Iwhen the door is closed.

` PAUL J. DANIELS. 

